Wire weaving machine and method of weaving wire cloth



Nov. 26, 1935. H, THOMPSON 2,022,225

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE AND METHOD OF WEAVING WIRE CLOTH Filed April 3, 1953 ll SheetS-Shet l NOV. 26, 1935. Hl 1 THQMPSON 2,022,225

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE AND METHOD OF" WEAVING WIRE CLOTH NOV. 26, 1935. H THOMPSON l 2,022,225

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE AND METHOD OF WEAVING WIRE CLOTH Filed April 3, 1933 11 sheets-sheets N0V 26, 1935- H. l.. THOMPSON 2,022,225

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE AND METHOD OF WEAVING WIRE CLOTH Filed April 3, 1935 ll Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 26, 1935. H, L. THOMPSON 2,022,225

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE AND METHOD OF WEAVING WIRE CLOTH Filed April 5, 1933 ll Sheets-Sheet 5 @fm/miur ,NOV- 26f 1935- H. 1 THOMPSON 2,022,225

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE AND'METHOD OF WEAVING WIRE CLOTH Filed April 5, 1933 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 NOV 26, 1935- H. L. THOMPSON WIRE WEAVING MACHINE AND METHOD OF WEAVING WIRE CLOTH Filed April 5, 1953 11 sheets-sheet 7 Kaff/wm@ NOV. 26, 1935. H* A THOMPSON 2,022,225

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE AND METHOD OF WEAVING WIRE) CLOTH Filed April 3, 1933 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 a 45* HMI.

Nov. 26, 1935.

WIRE WEAVING H. L. THOMPSON 2,022,225

MACHINE AND METHOD OF WEAVING WIRE CLOTH Filed April 3, 1953 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 ff gy/M j' i@ j" "1^" wir;

Nov. 26, 1935. H. 1 THOMPSON 2,022,225

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE AND METHOD OF' WEAVING WIRE CLOTH Filed April 5, 1933 ll Sheets-Sheet lO Zia/26% W Nov; 26, 1935. H. l.. THOMPSON 2,022,225

WIRE WEAVING MACHINE AND METHOD OF WEAVING WIRE CLOTH Filed April 3, 1933 ll Sheets-Sheet ll Patented Nov'. 26, 1935 UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE Herbert L. Thompson, Elgin, Ill., asslgnor to Reynolds Wire Co., Dixon, IIL, a corporation Application April 3, 1933, Serial No. 664,192

8Claims.

k 'I'he object of my present machine is first to provide a machine and a method, whereby wire cloth may be woven at a higher rate of speed and at less expense than has been possible by means and methods heretofore available.

The machine has numerous novel features, some of which will be mentioned here and others of which will be referred to in the course of the description.

A My improvement consists in a series of features, some of which I here mention.

It is my purpose to provide an improvement in warp wire feeding and tension control means.

Also it is the object of my present invention to provide an improved beater and comb structure.

Likewise it is my purpose to provide novel and rapid shuttle operating mechanism. whereby the shuttle may be rolled on its periphery for distributing the weft wire.

` Still another purpose of the present invention is to provide an improved feed mechanism for controlling the advance of the product through the machine, one form of the Ymechanism compensating for decreased weight of the shuttle as the wire is dispensed therefrom so that the machine can always operate at maximum speed.

I have also pro-vided an improved take-up for the finished wire cloth.

In the foregoing statement, I have not attempted to fully enumerate all the parts, which embody improvements in structure and other improvements will appear as the description proceeds.

It is my purpose to provide a mechanism and a method whereby a number of advantages in wire weaving may be attained.

` The operation of this mechanism is rapid and may be practically continuous except for infrequent shuttle changing. Thev shuttle does not need to be changed as often as with mechanisms heretofore used. The warp and selvage wires are fed in the same lengths, which I believe to be new and this contributes to the result of a perfectly fiat cloth.

The mechanism is such that the cloth is tightly crimped with a sharp bend at the wire junctions, the bend tending to be uniform in all warp and weft wires but capable of adjustment to provide more or less -crimp in either the warp cr the weft wires, if desired.

The spacing of the weft wires is accurate and v uniform.

The arrangement is such that the reeds may be removed for purposes of repair or replacement without the necessity for unthreading the machine.

I have eliminated variations in weft wire tension.

I provide means for welding the ends of the 5 cloth to keep them square and to avoid raveling and provide suitable means for attaching other lengths of cloth for subsequent successive processing, such as galvanizing.

With the mechanism here provided, great lengths of cloth can be woven without danger of wind-up, roll-slip or strain.

By the means provided, the finished cloth may be removed from the machine and mandrel without unwinding and without stopping production.

My mechanism has an intermittent feed and a stationary weaving point. Owing to this period during which the cloth is stationary, I find it possible to pass the cloth over an inspection apron, which may support the welding and cutting apparatus, and which may be used, if desired, to align special mechanism to perform any unusual Operations as for marking the cloth for identification and so forth.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the Various parts of my wire weaving machine and in the practice of my method, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates my wire weaving machine in side elevation, the wire tensioning mechanism which takes the warp wire from the rolls and tensions it for its progress through the machine being broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of a wire tensioning and control mechanism, which receives the warp wires from the source of supply and supplies them in equal lengths to the weaving mechanism.

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of this warp wire supplying mechanism.

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on 45 the line 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view of the Warp wire supplying mechanism taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 5A is an enlarged sectional view on the 50 line 5A-5A of Figure 5.

vFigure 6 is an elevation of the left endof the machine viewed from the front,to-wit from the end having the warp supplying mechanism mentioned.

Figure 7 is a similar view o1' the right side of the machine.

Figure 8 shows a rear elevation of one side of the machine.

Figures 8A and 8B show respectively a side elevation and a front elevation of a hand welding tool.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the side opposite that shown in Figure 1.

Figure 9A is a sectional view on the line 51A-9A of Figure 9, parts being omitted.

Figure 9A is a similar view showing a modified construction, parts being omitted.

Figure 9A" is a sectional view on the line A"-9A" of Figure 9A.

Figure 9B is a plan view of Figure 9A. i

Figure 9C is an end elevation of a clip shown in Figure 9B as viewed in the direction of the arrow 9C adjacent Figure 9B.

Figure l is a vertical sectional view taken on the line illl0 of Figure 6, illustrating the parts at one stage of the operation, some parts being omitted.

Figure 10A is a detailed sectional view of a part of the heddle structure taken on the line IDA-l 0A of Figure 10.

Figure 10B is a sectional view of part of the pick operating mechanism taken on the line iUB-lUB of Figure 10.

Figure 10C is a sectional view taken on the line HJC- E00 of Figure 10B.

Figure 10C' is aview similar to the left hand portion of Figure 10 slightly below the top thereof, showing a modiied holding mechanism.

Figure 10D is a vertical sectional View taken on the line iUD-iUD of Figure 7.

Figure 11 is a view similar to that of Figure 10, illustrating the parts at a different stage of the weaving operation.

Figure 11A is a diagrammatic view of a section of wire cloth, illustrating a stage of the Weaving operation.

Figure 11B is a view similar to the central portion of Figure 11 adjacent the upper end thereof showing a modified comb holder construction.

Figure 11C is an enlarged plan view of a portion one end of the comb shown in Figure 11B. Figure 12 is an elevation, partly in section taken on the line I2-l2 of Figure l, of the driving and automatic declutching and braking mechanism.

Figure 12A is a vertical sectional view taken on the line IZA-IZA or" Figure 12.

Figure 12B is a vertical sectional view of portions of the pawl and pin shown in Figure 12A.

Figure 12C is a vertical sectional view taken on the line I2C-I2C of Figure 12, illustrating the control handle.

Figure 12D is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line l2D-I2D of Figure 12C.

Figure 12E is a vertical sectional view taken on the section {2E- 12E of Figure 12C.

Figure 12F is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 12F-12F of Figure 12A.

Figure 12G is a diagrammatic view of the stop circuit system.

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the rolling shuttle.

Figure 13A is a detailed sectional view taken on the line I3A-l3A of Figure 13.

Figure 13B is a detailed sectional view taken on the line 13B-IBB of Figure 13A looking in the direction indicated by the arrows on the section line.

the lower part of Figure 14 is a side elevation somewhat like Figure 1 except omitting much of the mechanism and showing a modified type of driving mechanism for the loom to compensate for varying shuttle weight.

Figure 15 is an enlarged rear elevation of part of the modied driving mechanism as viewed in the direction of the arrow I adjacent Figure 14.

Figure 16 is a partial sectional view taken on the line lG-IG of Figure 15; and

Figure 17 is a partial sectional view taken on the line H-IT of Figure 14.

In order to simplify the explanation of the construction and operation of my improved weaving machine and the steps of my method, I shall endeavor to describe the units of the machine separately.

The warp wires are fed from suitable sources of supply as for instance from spools rotatably supported on racks adjacent to the front of the machine. These spools and racks are not here shown. From them the warp wires, as indicated at l0 in Figure 5, are fed to the warp wire tensioning and control mechanism, which is best illustrated in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive. It might be said at this point that the warp wires travel through the tensioning mechanism shown for instance in Figures 2 and 5. From thence the warp wires are carried forwardly to the weaving mechanism proper, in which they travel upwardly during the weaving process, as perhaps best shown in Figures and 11. Then the finished cloth moves over the breast roll hereafter to be described to the take-up mechanism.

Tensoning device and warp length control It is well known that it is very difficult in weaving machines heretofore used to produce wire cloth which will lie flat and straight as it comes from the loom. This is due in part to difficulties which have been encountered in supplying the warp wires in exactly equal lengths. Whenever there is variation in the tension on the incoming warp wires, the result is that the wires of the less tension are crimped more easily than the wires under tension, resulting in an uneven cloth. The ideal wire cloth is that in which the crimp is equal in warp and weft wires, so that the cloth will at all times have just the thickness of two wires. If one wire crimps so easily that it does not deflect the wire against which it is crimped, the cloth will have spots where it will be more than two wires thick. High wire crimps are easily seen and ruin the appearance of wire cloth, and in addition to this, if the subsequent handling of the wire involves passing the woven cloth with the uneven crimps over rolls under tension or even on to a tightly rolled roll of cloth, the high crimps will be pressed down and this will cause a loose spot in the finished wire cloth. It is obvious that where tensile strain is imposed on cloth, a loose wire does not receive its share of the pull. This explains the pulled or distorted cloth frequently seen. This problem will be again referred to in connection with the explanation of the operation of my machine and I will now proceed to explain the construction for tensioning and feeding the warp wires to the machine in equal lengths.

Integral with the base elements Il and Ila are laterally spaced upright frame members l2 and 12a. Mounted in the frame members I2 and l2a are three vertically spaced shafts I3, I4 and I5 shown in Figures 2 and 5. Spaced rearwardly from the shafts Il and l5 and staggered vertically between them ls a. similarly mounted shaft I6. On the shafts I3 to I6 inclusive are rotatably mounted metal rolls I3a, I4a, I5a and ISa.` These rolls I3a to I6a inclusive are of the same diameters and are caused to rotate in unison by meshing gears I1. A shaft I8 has its ends joumaled to rotate freely in the frame members I2 and I2a. On the shaft I8 is keyed a roll I9 of the same exterior diameter as and parallel with the rolls I3a to I6a. The roll I9 is geared to the other rolls as at 20, so that all of these rolls rotate together at the same surface speed.

A spacer rod or shaft 2| is detachably clamped to the upper ends of the frame members I2 and I2a by means of the clamps 22 and the screw bolts 23, which extend through the clamp members and are threaded into the frame members I2 and |2a. The spacer rod or shaft 2| is provided with equally spaced circumferential grooves 2Ia as shown in Figure 3.

A closing bar 24 is supported by the clamp members 22 adjacent to the spacer rod 2| and functions to keep the warp wires III in the grooves 2Ia. These spacer rods and closing bars are easily changeable so that rods with differently spaced grooves may be used for making cloth with different spaces between the successive warp wires.

Substantially below the spacer rod 2| and rearwardly in the machine from the roll |3a is a second spacer 25 in the form of a freely rotatable shaft. It is grooved similarly to the rod 2| and has the lower part of its periphery below the upper part of the periphery of the roll I3a. It is located quite close to the roll |3a. The ends of the spacer shaft 25 are recessed, as indicated in Figure 5A, to receive bearings 25a. Adjustable studs 25h are supported in the frame members I2 and I2a to in. turn support the bearings 25a and the spacer shaft 25.-

By locating the shaft 25 nearly in contact with the roll |3a, even very hard wire which has a marked tendency to retain its original crookedness can be fed onto the surface of the roll |3a in perfectly straight circumferential lines, which is essential to the successful performance of the tension device as a means for feeding exactly equal lengths of warp wire.

The spacer shaft 25 is readily removable to facilitate threading up the tension device. By merely loosening the studs 25h, the bearings 25a can be retracted out of their sockets so that the shaft 25 can be removed. This also facilitates changing shafts for weaving wire of different mesh.

The warp wires I come from the source of supply usually located above and forwardly with relation to the machine and are threaded around the rear face of the spacer rod 2I and then ythreaded with a rather sharp bend around the spacer shaft 25 and then successively around the smooth rolls |3a, I9, |4a, IIa and I5a.

It will be noted that the wires are threaded so that they embrace the larger part of the circumference of each of the rolls I3a, I9, I4a, |6a and Ia. This provides for frictional contact between the wire and the surface of the roll, which effcctually prevents slippage of the wire upon the roll surface at any pull within the tensile strength of the wire.

` for insuring precise duplication of the lengths of the respective warp wires admitted to the machine. y

In. order to further assure even initial tension on the warp wires as they start their travel through the rolls of the tension device, I pro- 5 vide means for producing slack in the warp wires. A

Rocker arms 3| are xed to a rock shaft 32 journaled in the frame members I2 and ,|2a. The rocker arms 3I 'extend upwardly and their 10 upper ends are connected by a rocker bar 33. On the shaft 32 is xed an arm 34 carrying a. weight 35 as shown in Figure 5, for normally holding the rocker bar 33 against the warp wires II'I between the spacer bar 2| and spacer shaft 15 25. Pivoted to one of the rocker arms 3| is a link 36 extending forwardly in the machine and having an elongated slot 31.

At vthe front of the machine, a substantially upright lever 38 is pivoted at 39 substantially 20 midway between its ends. Projecting from the upper end of the lever 38 through the slot 31 is a headed pin 40. Pivoted to the lower end of the lever 38 is a link 4| extending rearwardly in the machine.

Referring 'for the moment to Figure 10, it will be observed that the rearward end of the link 4I has a pivotal connection with a bell crank lever 42 pivoted on the main frame of the machine hereinafter to be described, and that the other end of the bell crank is pivoted to a link 43 which extends upwardly and has on its upper end the collar 44 carried on the eccentric cam 45 on the operating shaft 46 hereafter to be referred to.

It will be seen that the rotation of the shaft 46 imparts an oscillating movement to the rocker bar 33 through a short arc for intermittently putting slack in the incoming warp wires III.

It will be seen from the description of the loperation of the other parts of the machine to be hereinafter set forth 'that this operation of the rocker bar I6 is properly synchronized with the other operations of the weaving mechanism.

The operation of the rocker bars insures an even initial tension on the warp wires by drawing slack from the supply spools for each warp feed movement.

It might be mentioned here that the actual feed in drawing the wire from the spools is 5o accomplished only when the wires approach a straight line between the two spacer bars and have thus lifted the rocker bar to the point where the pin 40 engaging in the forward end of the slot 31 serves to pull a short length of 55 wire from the spools just before the wire is fed through the machine. The feeding action which immediately follows this slack producing action takes up the loose slack in the wire and the process is then repeated for furnishing slack warp wires for the next succeeding machine feeding motion.

It is sometimes necessary to momentarily reverse the direction of motion of the incoming warp wires to correct a bad piece of weaving or to make a set in starting a new shuttle of weft wire.

For this purpose, there is provided on one end of the shaft I8 a hand wheel 41 shown in Figures 2, 3 and 5. When it is desired to re- 70 verse the movement of the incoming warp wire, the feed pawl hereinafter referred to is moved out of feed position and the hand wheel is operated for reversing the normal movement of the rolls of the tension device. The slack which would then otherwise occur in the incoming warp wires between the roll l3a and spacer shaft 25 is taken care of by the rocker bar 33. The link 36 serves for transmitting the motion of the cam 45 to the rocker bar 33 only when that motion is necessary to strip wire from the supply spools for the next succeeding feed motion of the machine.

In case of reversal of the movement of the warp wires, the weight 35 of the rocker bar mechanism presses the rocker bar 33 against the nearly vertical warp wires between the spacer rod 2i and the spacer shaft 25 and as the wire is released from the top of the roll 13a, this weight causes the rocker bar 33 to draw the loose wire around the spacer rod 25 and to maintain tension in the slack wire-though not enough tension to strip wire from the supply spools. This arrangement affords a reliable automatic control for the slack wire, which would otherwise accumulate above the rolls in case of a reverse movement of the warp wires on the rolls. It is, however, a safeguard only within the limits of travel of the rocker bar, which is designed to have suflcient movement to care for any normal requirements.

Result of operation of warp length control The warp length control herein described in connection with the means hereafter mentioned for pulling the cloth through the machine results in automatically causing all wires to be uniformly crimped.

I shall now proceed to explain how this desirable result occurs.

It will be obvious that even when the wires are under equal tension, there will be some wires softer than others,-to-wit of different temper and there may be some little difference in size. The weaver determines by experiment what the tension to be maintained should be and keeps this beneath the elastic limit of the warp wires.

A certain amount of cloth is first woven and this will not be good flat wire, but after a short period of operation, the even crimp of all wires becomes automatic. The action is about as follows:

After the rst weft wire is laid, the first heddle reversal will crimp all of the Warp wires upon this rst weft wire. The harder and stiffer warp wires will crimp less than those that are soft and flexible. Consequently these harder warp wires will defiect the weft wire more than will the soft warp wires. After each weft wire is laid in succession, the same action will follow, but it is plain that the hard wires crimping less than their neighbors will not use up as much of their length in crimp as do the softer wires. As the weaving progresses, the hard low crimping warp wires will tend to become less taut and the softer crimping warp wires by using up their length faster on the higher crirnps will tend to become more taut until a balance is established where the excess tension on the softer wires will lower the crimp thereof, and the reduced tension on the harder wires will result in increasing the amount of crimp in them to the cloth average. After the loom has operated long enough for th"s condition to appear, its continued operation will automatically maintain uniform crimping, so long as the warp Wires are fed in exactly equal lengths.

Tension adjustment The structure heretofore described, including the warp wire rolls, not only serves to provide for supplying warp wires in identical lengths but also functions in connection with certain additional parts now to be described to provide a certain general tension upon the warp wires dur- 5 ing the weaving operations.

Assuming that the warp feed through the feeding mechanism is definite and for all purposes practically irresistible, it follows that the load applied against the rotation of the rolls of the 10 mechanism shown in Figure 5 will increase the tension of the warp wire between those rolls, and the machine feed mechanism. I have provided means for automatically establishing a certain controlled degree of this tension producing fric- 15 tion load. The amount of friction to be applied must be regulated by the actual tension of the warp itself, so that increasing tension produces a decreasing friction and a decreasing tension produces an increase in friction. 20

In this way, the tension will be self-regulated and automatically constant.

On the shaft I8 between it and the frame member l2a is fixed a brake drum 48. On the brake drum is a brake band 48a (Figures 3 and 4). One 25 end of the brake band 48a is anchored to the frame l2a by means of a pin 48h and ordinary parts including a short arm 48e, a post 48d, and a lock nut 48e. The other end of the brake band is pivoted between ears of a lever 48j mounted 30 to rock on the frame by means of a pin 48g. The lever 48j has an arm 48h acting against a spring 481', which serves to normally hold the brake band out of contact with the drum.

When the brake band is thus inoperative, the 35 tension on the warp wires required to pull them rearwardly through the machine is only that tension, which is necessary to revolve the warp wire rolls and to overcome the friction of the wires on the spacer shaft 25 and on the rocker bar 33. 40

There is provided mechanism for regulating the brake friction. (See Figures 2, 4, 5, 6 and 10.) After the warp wires leave the roll I5a, shown in Figure 5, they travel rearwardly in the machine toward the weaving mechanism supported upon 45 the main side frame members l5 and 15a. It might be mentioned here that the main frame members 'I5 and 15a are rigidly connected with the frame members I 2 and |241 by means of heavy connecting frame members 15b. 50

The warp wires pass under and then upwardly from a Whip roll 48j rotatably supported on a shaft 48k. The shaft 48k is supported between the rearward ends of the arms 481 and 48m. The arms 481 and 48m extend forwardly in the ma- 55 chine and are rigidly connected with a transverse shaft 481i, journaled in bearings 48o supported by the frame members 15b. (See Figure 5.)

The arm 48m has a forward projection 48p 60 (Figure 5) which stands just below a rearwardly extending arm 48q on the lever 48j. Adjustably threaded in the arm 48q is an adjustment screw 481- on which is a lock nut 48s. This adjustment screw 481' serves to vary the effective distance 05 between the arm 48q on the lever 48! and the projection 48h on the arm 48m. It is obvious that upward movement of the projection 48p bearing against the screw 48T (Figures 4 and 5) serves to tilt the lever 48j and tighten the brake 70 band 48a against the drum 48 for thus resisting rotation of all of the rolls and consequently resisting the forward feed of the warp wires.

As the warp wires are drawn around the whip roll 487' and upwardly through the weaving mech- 75 anism by the means hereinafter to be described, the wires exert an upward pull upon the whip roll, which merely lies upon them. If the warp wires were given slack, the whip roll would have no support'l and would thereafter drop to the oor, if it were not for the engagement of the projection 48p with the adjustment screw 48T. This engagement is, of course,with suiilcient pressure to'support the whip roll 487 -and its supporting arms. 'I'he weight thus imposed on the lever 48f causes the brake band 48a to engage the brake drum with considerable friction and to thus resist the rotation of the warp wire rolls.

It is thus seen that there is provided a means for establishing tension on the warp. The warp can not pass through the warp rolls until there is suiiicient tension upon it to lift the whip roll a certain distance or amount. This distance or amount can be regulated by means of the adjust- Vment of the screw 481'. This screw adjustment, however, only establishes the height at which the whip roll causes the brake to be released. It does not adjust tension. In order to change thetenl'sionV on the warp, it is necessary to change the downward pressure exerted upon the warp by the whip roll. I will now describe the mechanism for regulating this downward tension of the whip roll on the warp.

' The arms 481 and 48m have short rearward extensions beyond their hubs which embrace the shaft 48k, indicated at 48t (Figure 10). These extensions have what might be called anvil faces 48u machined in a plane radial with relation to the axis of the shaft 48k. Just rearwardly of 'the whip roll 487', a transverse shaft 481) is rigidly supported between the machine side frames 15a and 15. Upon this shaft 48u is rotatably supported a sleeve or tube 48m-by anti-friction bearings of any suitable type, not here shown. At -each end of the sleeve 48w are fixed rigid forwardly extending arms 48x, which bear upon the anvil faces 48u. At approximately the center of the sleeve 4810 is fixed a rearwardly extending arm 48g. Secured to the rearward end of this arm is one end of a coil spring 482. The other 4end of the spring 482 is connected to a chain 49, which can be wound more or less tightly around a sleeve 49a on a shaft 48h for controlling the pull on the arm 48V.

For winding the chain 49 onthe sleeve 49a, which is fixed on the shaft 48h, a lever 49o is fixed to the shaft 49h (Figure l) The lever 48e may be locked in various positions of adjustment by means of a movable pin 49d having slidable Vmounting in the lever 48e and adapted to be projected into any one of a series of holes 48e in a rigid quadrant 48].

1f As the warp weaving tension is dependent upon ithe pull required to lift the whip roll 487' high enough to release the brake on the tension rolls, it follows that any downward pressure applied to Vthe whip roll will increase the warp tension just that much, because the brake will not release the rolls until this downward pull has been overcome by the upward pull of the warp itself, and once the proper adjustment is established, it is .permanent except for slight variations due to 4-wear and so forth, although the adjustment is easily altered by varying the tension on the spring 48z. The sleeve 48w really functions somewhat like the beam of a scale in that it serves to balance the warp tension against the spring In'addition to its function as a means for altering the warp tension, the tube 48w and its arms 481: serve to keep the whip roll perfectly horizontal and thus prevent either side of the warp from straining or pulling the whip roll frame out of alignment. 4

y In action, the whip roll and attendant mech- 5 anism are constantly rising andfalling through a short travel in unison with the heddle movement and the feed of the warp hereafter to be described. However, this does not necessarily involve the Warp rolls in a perfectly synchronized 10 feed movement, since the elasticity of the train of members conveying thel action as well as that of the wire itself blends this motion into a brake release that is somewhat more constant but which accurately averages the feed at the parl5 ticular tension at which it is set.

It is thus possible to take up the warp slack, due to heddle movement and at the same time automatically adjust the tension brake with the same mechanism. This is feasible since the 20 heddle movement is compensated within the range of the elasticity of the parts, while the warp feed causes an actual permanent rise to the vibrating parts until the lift of the whip roll results in suiiicient brake release to allow addi- 25 tional warp wire to pass through the warp rolls.

H eddles `From the whip roll 487', the warp wires i0 extend upwardly through the heddles 49g, which 30 function to successively move alternate wires rearwardly and forwardly in the machine for forming the shed for the passage of the shuttle carrying the weft wire (Figure 10). These heddles or trestles have a number of features, which 35 distinguish them from heddles used in standard wire cloth weaving machines.

Instead of being frail needle-like members strung upon a wooden harness frame, my heddles 49g have substantial metal frames set in 40 horizontal planes, one above the other. The side members of the heddle frames travel upon ro1lers'49h.

Adjacent the inner faces of the transverse members of the heddle frames are mounted rel5 movable spacer bars 58. These spacer bars have regularly spaced inward projections 5|, which serve as supports for properly locating and spacing the heddle dents 52. These spacer bars may be held by screws, not shown. The spacer bars are removable so that they may be replaced by others having differently spaced projections 5I. It is thus possible to select spacer bars for properly spacing the warp wires according to the number of warp wires per inch in the desired finished 55 wire cloth.

The heddle dents 52 are rigid metal members having transverse sections in the shape of a downwardly opening U. Each has a slot 53 in its center at its to'pfor the free passage of a warp wire and between its walls below the slot has metal sheaves 54 fo\n receiving the warp wire between them and ser-vin as anti-friction means. The U-shaped heddle dents at their ends straddle the projections 5I., f locking strip 55 is placed above the ends of/the heddle dents and is secured to the transverse frame member of the heddle by means of screws 55a. 'This prevents the heddle dents from being lifted oi the supporting projections 5I.

'I'his assembly makes a substantial suiiiciently Ilight weight but very durable heddle. member,

the weft wire through the warp shed in the manner described below.

Reciprocating movement is transmitted to the heddles 49g by mechanism which will now be described.

Journaled on the frame of the machine is a shaft 56 to which levers 51 are fixed between their ends. Links 58 are pivoted to the upper ends of the levers 51 and to the upper heddle frame 49g. Similar links 58a are pivoted to the lower ends of the levers 51 and to the lower heddle frame 49g.

Rocking motion is transmitted to the shaft 58 from the shaft 59 journaled on the main frame. On the end of the shaft 59 as shown in Figure 10D and in Figure '1 is a cam disc 60, having a cam groove 68a in its face. A lever 6| has one end pivoted on the frame as at Bla and carries a roller 62 which travels in the cam groove 68a. 'I'he lever 6| is pivoted to one end of a link 52a which is in turn pivoted at its far end to an arm 63 fixed on the shaft 56.

As the shaft 59 rotates, the lever 6|, the link 82a and the arm S3 are reciprocated for rocking the shaft 56. The rocking of the shaft 5S serves to reciprocate the heddle frames 49g through the media of the links 58--58a.

Beater and comb or reed The line where the weft wire is laid as the warp is fed through the machine is just above the heddles.

use a novel swinging beater 68, shown for instance in Figures l0 and 11, extending transverselyrin the machine. The beater 68 carries a toothed comb 61 clamped to it by means of a member 68 and screw bolts 68a, so that the comb can be readily removed and replaced with another for differently spaced warp wire.

This beater and comb swing on a short radius and only during a portion of their travel is the comb within the warp shed. This permits a greater portion of the operative cycle to be used in passing the shuttle back and forth for laying the weft wire while the beater and comb are out of the shed area and will not interfere with the shuttle.

The beater is operated from spaced cams 69 on the cam shaft 59 already referred to. The cams 69 contact rollers 1| on levers 12 pivoted at 12a (Figures 7, l0 and 1l). The levers 12 are pivoted at their upper ends to links or connecting rods 13, which are in turn pivoted to the beater 66. The beater 55 is journaled on a transverse shaft 14 (see Figures 6, 7, 10 and 1l). The rotation of the shaft 59 through the mechanism just described serves to rock the beater 66 from the position shown in Figure 10 to the position shown in Figure 1i and back.

The operation of the beater and comb will again be referred to in connection with the description of the weft wire laying mechanism.

In Figures 11B and 11C, I have shown a modified comb construction comprising parts built up to form the comb. The comb is indicated generally by the reference numeral 61a and comprises a plurality of teeth elements 61b arranged on edge and threaded on tie rods 61e. Interposed between'the teeth 51h and surrounding the tie rods S1c are spacer washers 61d.

The comb 61a is clamped in a modified beater arm 65a between the arm and a transversely extending clamping bar 66h. Clamping bolts 88e extend through the arm 58a and the bar 68h to clamp the comb between them.

Wire cloth feed mechanism The feed mechanism for the wire cloth is 1ocated at the top of the machine. A breast roll 18 (Figures 10 and l1) is carried by suitable antifriction bearings not here shown on a transverse shaft 11 rigidly supported on the main frame members of the machine.

Upon one end of the breast roll 18 is fixed a gear 18, preferably having a pitch diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the breast roll.

A shaft 19 (Figures 1, 8, 9 and 10) is journalled in the main frame 15a and in a bracket bearing and has fixed thereto a pinion 19a (Figure 8) which meshes with the gear 18 on the breast roll.

Intermittent fractional rotation is imparted to the shaft 18 and pinion 19a at each machine cycle by means of a ratchet 8|, fixed on the shaft 18 (Figures 8 and 9). The ratchet 8| is actuated by a pawl 82 which is pivoted by a pin 88 on the oscillating arm 84 and spring loaded by the spring 82a. The arm 84 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 18 and rocks through an arc around the shaft 19. The rearward end of the arm 84 is plvoted to a link 85, which extends downwardly and has its lower end pivoted on a crank pin 88. The crank pin 86 is adjustably mounted on the pinion 81 by means of an ordinary screw fed and friction lock variable feed indicated generally at 86a in Figure 9.

The pinion 81 is fixed on the main drive shaft 46. A spring loaded pawl 88a is pivoted on the bearing 80 at 83h to coact with the ratchet 8|,

Directly above the breast roll and parallel therewith is a transverse shaft 88 supported in slots 98 in brackets 9| on the main frame. Above the ends of the shaft 88 are plates 88a upon which are helical compression springs 89 above which are plates 88h. The plates and springs are contained in seats, machined in the upper portion of the walls of the slots 88. The upper ends of the slots are covered by plates 82 bolted to the brackets 9 l. Acb'usting screws 83 are threaded through the plates 92 and bear adjustably against the plates 88h, and thus provide means for controlling the tension of the springs and the pressure imposed on the shaft 88.

At the opposite ends of the shaft 88, rearwardly and downwardly extending arms 84 are pivoted. They support a shaft 91 upon which is journaled a roller 99 by anti-friction bearings not shown. Likewise on each end of the shaft 88 is pivoted an arm 95. The arms 95 support a shaft 88 upon which is journaled a roller 99a by means of antifriction bearings not shown. An endless, band |88 of rubberized fabric is extended around the rolls 99 and 89a in such a way as to embrace the top of the breast roll 16 for a considerable portion o! its circumference, so that any rotation of the breast roll will tend to drive the belt and the rolls 99 and 99a by frictional contact. The frictional pressure of the belt on the breast roll may be regulated by means of the screws 83 and the springs 89 affording a suitable cushioning means for the shaft 88.

Pressure brought to bear by adjustment of the screws will tend not only to cause the belt |80 to bear more strongly against the breast roll.-

but it will also tend to separate the rolls 88-88a, without forcing any of the members out of their proper relations.

On account of the anti-friction bearings, variations in this pressure do not substantially change the frictional resistance to rotation.

The weaving point where the weft wires are moved to their ultimate position in the completed wire cloth is located just a few inches below the point at which the belt makes contact with the surface of the breast roll on the front side of the machine. The finished wire cloth passes between the belt |00 and the surface of the breast roll 16 and is held by a irm grip for its entire width and for a length along the warp nequal to that portion of the breast rollv circumference embraced by the belt.

Intermittent rotation of the breast roll by means already described functions to feed the iinished wire cloth through the machine.

Since the pressure applied by means of the belt may be varied as desired, it is evident that I the feeding means is positive over any range of tensions that may be imposed. This is particularly true because the gripping surfaces of the roll and belt press equally upon both the woven warp and woven weft and tend to grip them rmly at each crimp junction.

'Ihe feed mechanism serves another function in addition to Afeeding the cloth. After the cloth enters the vice-like grip of the feed, pressure is applied at each wire junction sumcient to reduce any high crimp. If under unusual conditions, high crimps are encountered, due to the fact that there is a soft wire in the warp, the crimp will be rolled down to a two wire thickness in the cloth, and the loose wire obtained from the flattened crimp will be steadily rolled back out of.

cloth, until it appears as loose warp below the weaving point, and this will give notice to the weaver that a new supply spool of harder wire should be inserted.

As wire cloth is ordinarily woven, the outside or selvage warp wires arefnever crimped in the loom. The weft wire in looping around these selvage wires does, not cause them to crimp, be-I cause in ordinary looms, it is not possible to support the weft loop with suihcient rigidity to cause the warp wire to bend around it. As a consequence, the weft loop ordinarily merely twists a trie to permit the passage of the selvage wire through it. In ordinary looms, a similar effect is noticeable also upon the warp wires immediately adjacent to the selvage wires. but in a considerably modied' degree.

Ordinarily the subsequent rolling of the cloth upon the take-ofi mandrel forces some crimp into the selvage in the eifort to press all of the cloth into a two wire thickness. However, in the weavingy the lack of the crimp results in loose selvage wires and it is common practice to use weights or other expedients applied to the outside warp wires to maintain their weaving tension.

In the present machine, although the weaving does not actually crimp the outer wires, the direct pressure applied by the .belt just above the4 the belt and breast roll engage. vThe completion- 4oi? the crimp formed by the belt pressure results in part from the lack of tension in the warp wire involved. Since the warp wire is somewhatI loose, it requires less pressure to crimp it snugly about the weit wire. The more complete the crimp is, the more warp length will be absorbed, and as a consequence, this tension is in a measure self-regulating. 5 In looms in ordinary use, the finished wire lis usually wound upon a wind-up member and tension is provided by means of a transverse weighted roller bearing upon a bight in the cloth. The

action of the weightedroller is made perpetual regardless of the mechanism Whichrotates the take-up mandrel and winds up a certain amount of cloth, thus raising the weighted roller each time that it drops low enough to trip a. wind-up clutch. l5

The warp is generally ied by a gear controlled rotation of a warp drum or beam and is constant so far as the angular velocity of vthedrum is concerned. This, however, does not result in precise accuracy in the length of the cloth, because as the warp wire is paid oil. the drum, the roll of wire is constantly decreased in radius, and consequently there is a constant reduction of the spaces between the weft wires.

Furthermore in such looms, a considerable length of cloth and of unwoven warp is constantly subjected to full weaving strain.

As the beater drives the reed through the warp for forcing'the weft wire into place, a considerable 'forward impulse is given. Since wire is 30 elastic, this additional forward impulse puts a strain upon the warp wires and results in theI temporary forward displacement of the weaving in a periodic oscillation thereof,'which limits the speed of the loom on account of the inertia of the weight rollI In ordinary looms now in use the wind-up mandrel is the final warp tension support, since the-.wire is stretched between it and the drum. Warp tension is established and maintained by the rotation of this member. beginning of a run, the cloth is wound tangent to perhaps a two `inch radius. As each convolution of cloth is added to the intermittently rotating member, the radius at which it is received is greater by the thickness of one cloth layer.

Since the weight roll imposes an average uni- `form tension on the cloth, it is obvious that each successive convolution of cloth on the mandrel imposes a greater tortional stress upon ,the

mandrel. The cloth being attached at one end to the mandrel must carry the same tortional load as the mandrel on the inside convolution and ii the roll becomes twice the size of the mandrel, the cloth next the mandrel is subject to' stress' nearly twice the weaving tension. As 65 thistension reaches the elastic limit of the wire, permanent elongation of the wire results. Since the warp wires vary in the elastic limit, some stretch more than others, and this sometimes resultsin what is known as pulled cloth. the/p is bad enough, the cloth can not be marketed. My present machine'is free from the evils mentioned above.

'Ihe iinal weaving point is immediately adiacent to the feed means and variable stretching of At the 50.y

when 7o' j the warp is prevented by the fact that the feeding means is positive, and the tension created thereby is uniform in amount.

As the beater and comb raise a weft wire into place, there is no jump of the weaving point, since any force expended in this operation must overcome the entire warp tension and actually lift the whip roll 48j in order to move the cloth in the machine.

The cloth, not being weight fed, remains stationary above the weaving point under the thrust from the comb, since the feed means is then stationary, and while sustaining the tension exerts no pull, and if the comb should exert sufficient lift, it would merely bend the cloth between the comb and the feed mechanism, because the comb would take the entire load and enough more to lift the Whip roll 487'.

The force exerted in picking up a weft wire does not add to the weaving tension between the warp rolls and the feed unit, but merely momentarily supports a portion of the total warp strain, which is normally supported by the feed unit during the remainder of the machine cycle.

In this way, the warp is not subjected to various periodical strains, but is constantly strained by the downward pressure of the whip roll only, which allows merely such tension variations as are represented by its action in controlling the tension brake.

From the foregoing, it is plain that the friction feed gives precise control to the movements of the cloth instead of the variable control resulting from the old Weight roll feed. The friction feed permits perfect spacing of the weft because it eliminates the dancing of the weaving point and does not variably stretch the warp wires. Likewise it provides a means for crimping the selvage and adjacent wires to a considerable extent and delivers the cloth free of tension or strain of any kind to the wind-up device or to the open floor for subsequent processing.

I shall hereafter describe the operation 'of laying the weft wires, but will rst refer to certain operations performed upon the wire after it passes through the feed mechanism, which are largely made practical by the advantages resulting from my friction feed of the wire cloth.

Welder and cutter Supported on the main frame to receive the finished wire cloth after it leaves the breast roll is an inclined apron |03 (Figures 10 and 11). `l'ournaled in the side walls of the apron is a transverse shaft |03a. The shaft carries parallel arms |03b, which support a transverse clamp bar Ill. On the shaft is a manual control handle Illa. The arms |03b have lugs |03c to which are secured springs |02. The springs |02 are also fastened to the main frame, so as to function to hold the clamping bar on either side of a certain position of movement (Figure 1). This is accomplished by mounting the spring, so that it moves over center with relation to the shaft |03a during the swing of the arms |031) and the clamp bar |0|. 'I'he clamp bar is designed to engage the wire cloth as it passes over the apron |03 and for that purpose is provided with a resilient member or members |04 at its engaging edge.

In Figure 10C I show a modified clamp which can be used instead of the clamp bar |0| and its associated mechanism. 'I'he clamp in Figure |0C' comprises a clamp roller |0|b eccentrically mounted and covered with rubber or other'yieldable surface material. A handle |0|c extends from the clamp roller |0|b for swinging it from the dotted unlocked position to the full line locked position or vice versa. The clamp roller |0|b binds the Woven cloth in a normal feed direction. The clamp roller holds the wire, while additional wire being fed toward the clamp merely buckles above the roller.

A little below the clamp bar, the apron |03 supports two transverse copper bars |05 and |06 parallel with each other. These copper bars have iiat faces parallel with the cloth and in part support the cloth. Current supply wires 25| and 252 are provided for feeding a welding transformer W. The output of the transformer W is a low voltage high amperage electric current, one wire of which is connected with the frame of the machine, as indicated at l5, to include the copper plates |05 and |06 in the circuit (Figures 1 and l2G). The other wire of the secondary circuit is connected with a manual welding tool (Flgure 8A) The welding tool has a non-conducting handle |0`|a provided with a yoke |01b in which is supported a fiat-faced copper roller |08. One side of the yoke of the roller is provided with a thin flat copper plate |09. The yoke, which is insulated from the handle, is connected by a. wire |06a with the secondary circuit and the transformer W.

There is thus provided means whereby a circuit n may be closed through the roller |08 or blade I 09 and the copper bars |05 or |06 by permitting contact between the bars and the roller or the plate.

Ordinarily, as the cloth passes down the back of the machine, over the apron |03 and under the cl/amp plate |0l, it is cut transversely to unload the machine of the finished product, which has been suitably rolled in the desired quantity. It may be said that for determining the quantity delivered from the machine, a revolution counter, not here shown, is applied to the breast roll.

When the desired length of cloth has been woven, the clamp |0| is manually thrown to down position against the moving cloth. This prevents further movement of the cloth below the clamp, but permits the cloth to feed and belly out above the clamp, so that it is not necessary to stop the machine.

The clamp holds the cloth in rigid engagement r Cloth may be cut by other means, but this method permits cutting without straining the 6 cloth and without any apparatus except the copper blade.

It will be noted that two welds are made, one along each copper bar.

The cutting may even cause further welding at the exact cut edge oi the cloth. The cutting in this manner leaves ordinarily a rounded smooth edge on the protruding stub of warp, which is more comfortably handled than the sharp edge of shear cut wire.

The Welding of the wire at the ends of the sections of cloth eliminates waste due to unraveling', facilitates the attachment of various lengths to each other, stiifens` the cloth at the ends, and simplifies the starting of the free end of the cut cloth still attached to the machine on the Wind-up mandrel below.

' Wind-up' apparatus At the lower rear end of the machine is the wind-up mandrel III), a'hollow metal roll, having in its periphery a longitudinal slot I Illa to receive the edge of the woven cloth Figure 1).

It has at its ends projecting hollow gudgeons I I I. Each gudgeon has an annular circumferential groove I I Ia, shown by dotted lines in Figure l and in full lines in Figure 8.

Hardened steel rollers I I2 are journaled in the frame at each end of the mandrel, with their edges received in the grooves I I Ia, to supportthe mandrel.

The cloth is drawn over the apron |03 and thence down to the mandrel, and the inserted into the slot Hoa.

Th? entire slack in the cloth is taken up. Above the Wind-up mandrel is a. pressure roll II3, having a shaft |I3a (Figure 1) journaled in slidable bearing blocks ||3b. These blocks slide in inclined guide slots I I4 in the frame elements I Ida.

Attached to theends of the bearing blocks are the ends of chains |I5 (Figure 1). The upper stretches of these chains travel over sprockets I I6 (Figure 8) on al shaft II'I journaled in the frame members I I4a. The lower stretches of the chains travel over idler rollers or sprockets I|8.

On the shaft III is a hand wheel IIIa, which may be used for manually raising or-lowering the pressure roll, which-is always kept parallel with the cloth and with the wind-up mandrel (Figure l).

On the shaft I|`I is a ratchet |I9 and a coacting pawl |20 is pivoted on one of the frame mem bers ||4a. The pawl may be manipulated for holding the pressure roll ||3 after it has been manually raised, for instance to permit the removal of a wind-up mandrel with the roll of cloth thereon.

Motion is imparted to the pressure roll by means of a chain I2I, which travels over a sprocket |22 on the breast roll and over part only of the periphery of a sprocket |23 on one of the shafts ||3a of the pressure roll ||3 and around suitable idler guide rolls |23a, I23b and I23c as shown in Figure l. The idler roll |23c is mounted on a bracket arm I23d extending from a slide block ||3b as shown by dotted lines in Figure l, so that the guide roll may travel with the pressure roll as it moves upward. When the diameter of the rolled wire on the wind-up mandrel is increased. There is enough play in the chain I2! to permit this operation Without the use of any special take-up means.

Pivotally supported on the shaft ||3a of the pressure roll are forwardly extending arms |24. These arms have suitable anti-friction bearings (not shown) at their ends for the pressure roll shaft and for a shaft |25a of a. weight roll |25.

The weight roll |25 is driven from the pressure roll I3 by a cha-in |26 traveling on sprockets |21 on the pressure roll and Weight roll (Figure 8).

When the cloth is in place on the wind-up man drei and the pressure roll and weight roll are bearing on the cloth, the mandrel is rotated only edge is mandrel is then turned by hand until the4 by the friction imparted from the pressure and weight rolls. The parts are so proportioned that the rotation imparted to the pressure roll from the breast roll is such as to give the pressure roll and weight roll a surface speed which slightly 5 exceeds that of the breast roll and hence slightly exceeds the speed of the feed of the cloth.

This results in a continuous slight slip the pressure and weight rolls and the cloth o the wind-up mandrel. The purpose of giving this 10 slip is to impart to the cloth that tension derived from its friction with the pressureand weight roll surfaces.

I ilnd this a very satisfactory means of producing a slight tension, since the frictional con- 15 tact is constant within close limits, and is not altered by the amount of cloth on the mandrel.

While th pressure roll alone would make a fair roll of' cloth upon the wind-up mandrel, the addition of the driven weight roll, urging the 20 cloth forward at about the point where it passes under the pressure roll for the second time serves to give the cloth tension clear around the outside convolution of the clothroll and results in a snug but not unduly tense strained roll of wire 25 cloth, which does not bind the mandrel, and can be. removed from the mandrel by the simple expedient of pushing the mandrel out of the roll of cloth after the removal of the mandrel from the' machine.

After considerable cloth is upon the mandrel, the'cloth is cut, the pressure and weight rolls are lifted away from contact with the roll of cloth on the mandrel by manipulation of the hand wheel Illa.

The roll of wire cloth may be tied by means of a' wire fastened around it. Bars are placed in the openings of the gudgeons I I I and by means pf the bars, the mandrel can be lifted out of the machine. It can then be removed from the roll 40 of cloth and replaced on the machine.

I have provided an additional precautionary means for preventing any telescoping of the inner convolutions of cloth on the mandrel by axial crawl. I provide near each end 0f the wind-up 45 mandrel a flat metal guide |33, the left-hand one being shown in Figure 8. Each guide |33 is supported upon a rod |34, which is horizontally slidablein a bearing |35 on the main frame member. The guides |33 are merely flat plates, which 50 can be locked in position by means of the set A screws |36 having threaded connection with the bearing |35 and having their ends attached to engage the rods |34. The guides |33 act as retaining walls at the ends of the wire roll to" confine the cloth to a roll of a maximum length corresponding to the Width of the fabric being woven.

I have now described a considerable portion of the mechanism of my improved machine and have outlined the progress of the warp wires through the machine, but have not yet described the laying of the weft wires and the actualwreaving process.

Wm Larme MEANS Shuttle ally by transversely reciprocating arms.

In the present machine, I have provided a shuttle which performs the functions of both the old shuttle and the old bobbin. The old shuttle 

